Creative License Ambassadors

The Creative Ambassador Program connects San Jose residents across communities through creative participatory experiences. The program seeks to make the arts integral to residents' everyday lives by focusing on place-based opportunities for creative expression and connection throughout San Jose.

Up to four Creative Ambassadors will be selected for the 2023 term. Each Ambassador will receive a stipend of $9,500 to develop and implement an approved creative expression project within their term. Expenses for the proposed creative project will be drawn from the stipend. Funds will be released upon meeting deliverables as set forth in the contract between the Ambassador and the Office of Cultural Affairs. The stipend may be received on behalf of the Ambassador by an organization with which they are closely affiliated or a nonprofit fiscal sponsor. If recommended as an Ambassador, the applicant or applicant's fiscal sponsor must have a valid business license on file with the City of San Jose and provide proof of current liability insurance and auto insurance in order for payment to be issued.

Applicants must have a current business or residential address within San Jose and a professional presence in the city for at least three years. Applicants must be practicing artists in performing, visual, literary, and/or media arts with at least a five-year track record of exhibiting, performing, publishing, or otherwise sharing their artwork with the public. Applicants must be available to fulfill Creative Ambassador duties between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023. Full-time students, artists who have previously served as Creative Ambassadors, and current San Jose Arts Commissioners and City of San Jose staff are not eligible.

Creative Ambassadors will serve a one-year term during which they will promote creative expression through social media, partner with the Office of Cultural Affairs in promoting the WeCreate408 challenge, contribute an article to the Office of Cultural Affairs newsletter, participate in media interviews as requested, and act as representatives of cultural expression at local events and meetings (up to 5 events, may be virtual or in-person). Ambassadors will also produce a creative hands-on project in San Jose that engages the public in creative expression. The project must be open to the public and participatory in nature, with a proposal presented to the Office of Cultural Affairs for approval before implementation. Ambassadors must attend quarterly Creative Ambassador meetings.

Applications must be submitted through the Call for Entries (CaFÉ) form by October 10, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. MDT and must include answers to application questions, work samples, Resume/CV, and Budget. Work sample requirements: up to 10 images, up to 3 audio files, up to 3 video files, with a maximum of 16 total samples. Written word artists may submit PDF written examples in the application instead of the portfolio section. Visual/audio/video artists must submit at least 3 work samples. For questions regarding this call, email [email protected].